JP6446347B2 - Thumbnail providing device, display device, thumbnail video display system, thumbnail video display method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a video distribution technique, and more particularly to a technique for displaying a thumbnail of a distributed video.

  In TV broadcasting, CATV, IPTV multi-channel video distribution services and VOD video distribution services, providing a means of knowing what programs are being broadcast (distributed) now allows users to actually It will help you to watch. When selecting a channel that the user wants to watch, grasp the contents of the program using text information such as the program guide or EPG, and select a channel that describes the content that interests you, or select a channel in the form of zapping for a short time. While switching to, the method of selecting the channel that interests you was taken.

  In the program guide and EPG, the listability is excellent, but only information in a form summarized with text information is posted, and it is unclear what is being broadcast “now”. Further, in the case of zapping, it is possible to actually see what is being broadcasted, but there is a problem that if the number of channels is increased, the time and labor required for zapping become very long.

  In relation to the above issues, as an effort to improve the user's video viewing experience, the distribution contents of each channel are displayed as thumbnails with animated GIFs on the smartphone / tablet, and the user can view the contents while viewing the thumbnail list screen. A remote control app that switches TV channels by selecting channels that interest them has been proposed.

JP 2014-140104 A

  However, even if a thumbnail image converted into an animated GIF is displayed as in the above prior art, it cannot be said that a video that is being broadcast (distributed) is being displayed. In addition, in order to make animated GIFs, there is a problem such as a large delay, and past thumbnail images are displayed repeatedly while new thumbnail images are not received, and actual broadcast (distribution) contents and tablet / There is a problem that the thumbnail images on the smartphone are separated.

  In addition, since the temporal information in the video is lost by converting it to an animated GIF, it is difficult to synchronize the thumbnail images on the tablet / smartphone and the broadcast (distributed) content. In other words, the conventional technology has a problem that thumbnails of videos of a plurality of channels distributed by the video distribution service cannot be properly displayed on the user terminal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of appropriately displaying thumbnails of videos of a plurality of channels distributed by a video distribution service on a user terminal. To do.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a thumbnail providing apparatus that provides thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame acquisition means for acquiring frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, and acquiring a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel from the frame data at a predetermined interval;
Sequence generating means for generating a thumbnail video sequence by arranging the frames acquired by the frame acquiring means in the time axis direction;
A thumbnail providing apparatus comprising: means for transmitting a thumbnail video sequence acquired by the sequence generating means.

Further, a thumbnail providing device that provides information on a plurality of channels of thumbnail video in a video distribution service to a display device,
Frame information acquisition means for acquiring I frame information describing information of an I frame used as a thumbnail image of each channel from the I frame playlist of the plurality of channels;
Reordering means for reordering the I frame information in the order of the channels for each I frame information at the same time for the I frame information of a plurality of channels acquired by the frame information acquisition means;
There is provided a thumbnail providing device comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit I frame information of a plurality of channels rearranged by the rearranging unit to the display device as a thumbnail video playlist.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a thumbnail providing apparatus for providing thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service is acquired, and a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel is obtained from the frame data, and a frame group that is synchronized in time between all channels is determined in advance. Frame acquisition means for acquiring at intervals;
For each frame group acquired by the frame acquisition means, a sequence generation means for generating a thumbnail video sequence by combining the frames and generating one thumbnail video frame and arranging the thumbnail video frames in the time direction ;
And a means for sending a thumbnail video sequence generated by the sequence generation means.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
A thumbnail video sequence received from a thumbnail providing apparatus , wherein a first channel is provided for each frame group in a thumbnail video sequence in which frames corresponding to the plurality of channels acquired at predetermined intervals are arranged in a time axis direction. Frame acquisition means for sequentially acquiring frame data from:
There is provided a display device comprising: display means for sequentially displaying each frame data acquired by the frame acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the frame data.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Playlist acquisition means for acquiring a thumbnail video playlist including I frame information describing I frame information used as thumbnail video of each channel from the thumbnail providing device;
Video data acquisition means for acquiring I frame data of each channel from the video distribution server based on the I frame information in the thumbnail video playlist;
There is provided a display device comprising: display means for sequentially displaying each I frame data obtained by the video data obtaining means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the I frame data.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a technique capable of appropriately displaying thumbnails of videos of a plurality of channels distributed by a video distribution service on a user terminal.

1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the thumbnail provision apparatus 100 in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the user terminal 200 in 1st Embodiment. 6 is a diagram for explaining a processing example of a thumbnail providing apparatus 100. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a process of the user terminal. It is a block diagram of the thumbnail provision apparatus 200 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the user terminal 250 in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a processing example of a thumbnail providing apparatus 200. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a process of the user terminal. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a process of the thumbnail provision apparatus 100 in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a process of the user terminal 150 in 3rd Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is only an example, and the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the following embodiment. In the present specification and claims, “video distribution” includes any service that distributes or broadcasts video.

(System configuration overview)
FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration diagram of a thumbnail video distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a multi-channel video distribution company's facilities (antenna 20, devices in the IP network 10 and the like) are connected to a television 400 such as a user's house by broadcast waves or an IP network. Video distribution.

  On the other hand, a multi-channel thumbnail video stream related to the video distribution is transmitted from the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 to the user terminal 150. In FIG. 1, reference numerals in the first (third) embodiment to be described later are given as an example, such as “thumbnail providing apparatus 100” and “user terminal 150”. Is common to the first to third embodiments.

  Further, transmission of the thumbnail video stream from the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 to the user terminal 150 may be performed via the IP network, may be performed by a broadcast wave, or may be performed by another network.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user terminal 150 is a tablet terminal, but this is only an example, and the user terminal 150 may be an apparatus other than the tablet terminal. For example, the user terminal 150 may be the television 400.

  In the user terminal 150 that has received the thumbnail video stream, the thumbnail video for each channel during video distribution is displayed. Thus, the viewer (user) can select the channel he / she is interested in and display it on the television 400 while easily grasping what is “now” being distributed in each channel. The user terminal 150 may be referred to as a display device.

  In the present embodiment, any method for instructing a channel from user terminal 150 to television 400 may be used. For example, an instruction via an IP network may be used, or a direct instruction using short-range wireless or infrared rays may be used.

  In the present embodiment, there are a time direction thumbnail stream method, a time direction thumbnail playlist method, and a space direction thumbnail stream method as methods for providing thumbnail video to a user terminal. Hereinafter, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment will be described.

(First embodiment: time direction thumbnail stream method)
<Apparatus configuration: Thumbnail providing apparatus 100>
FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a frame data acquisition unit 101, a thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102, a thumbnail video sequence generation unit 103, an encoding unit 104, and a code amount adjustment unit 105. Have. The function outline of each part is as follows.

  The frame data acquisition unit 101 receives video data of a plurality of channels transmitted from a multi-channel video distribution provider head end (device for video distribution), decodes the video data, and acquires frame data.

  The thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102 extracts a thumbnail video frame from the frame data obtained by the frame data acquisition unit 101. The thumbnail video sequence generation unit 103 rearranges the thumbnail video frames extracted by the thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102 to generate one thumbnail video sequence.

  The encoding unit 104 encodes (encodes) the thumbnail video sequence generated by the thumbnail video sequence generation unit 103 and sends it to the user terminal 150 side. The code amount adjustment unit 105 compares the code amount of the original stream between channels and performs control to distribute the bit amount of each frame to the encoding unit 104. Note that the provision of the code amount adjustment unit 105 is not essential, and this need not be provided.

  The thumbnail providing apparatus 100 may be configured by one apparatus (computer), or may be configured by connecting a plurality of apparatuses (computers) over a network. The thumbnail providing apparatus 100 can also be configured using server resources on the cloud. Further, the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 may be referred to as a thumbnail providing system. These points are the same for the other embodiments.

  Thumbnail providing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment (the same applies to other embodiments) can be realized, for example, by causing one or a plurality of computers to execute a program describing the processing contents described in the embodiment. It is. That is, the function of the device can be realized by executing a program corresponding to the process executed by the device using hardware resources such as a CPU, a memory, and a hard disk built in the computer. It is. The above-mentioned program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (portable memory or the like), stored, or distributed. It is also possible to provide the program through a network such as the Internet or electronic mail.

<Apparatus configuration: user terminal 150>
FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of the user terminal 150 in the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the user terminal 150 according to the present embodiment includes a decoding unit 151, a frame extraction unit 152, a thumbnail output unit 153, an operation / display unit 154, and an interlock control unit 155. The outline of each functional part is as follows.

  The decoding unit 151 receives the thumbnail video stream transmitted from the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 via the network, decodes the received thumbnail video stream, and acquires data of each frame of the thumbnail video sequence.

  The frame extraction unit 152 disassembles the multiplexed frames obtained by the decoding unit 151, rearranges the frames for each channel, and acquires the rearranged frames. The thumbnail output unit 153 outputs the thumbnail video frames of each channel obtained by the frame extraction unit 152 to the operation / display unit 154 at regular intervals.

  The operation / display unit 154 according to the present embodiment has both an operation reception function and a display function like a touch panel. The operation / display unit 154 displays the frame for each channel received from the thumbnail output unit 153 at a position corresponding to the channel, for example, as shown in FIG.

  For example, when the user designates a channel (thumbnail image designation) on the operation / display unit 154 displaying the thumbnail video for each channel, the interlock control unit 155 receives channel information from the operation / display unit 154. (Channel number or the like) is acquired and the channel information is transmitted to the television 400, thereby enabling the user to view the video of the desired channel.

  The user terminal 150 according to the present embodiment (the same applies to other embodiments) is realized, for example, by causing a computer (eg, a tablet-type terminal) to execute a program describing the processing contents described in the embodiment. Is possible. That is, the function of the device can be realized by executing a program corresponding to the process executed by the device using hardware resources such as a CPU, a memory, and a hard disk built in the computer. It is. The above-mentioned program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (portable memory or the like), stored, or distributed. It is also possible to provide the program through a network such as the Internet or electronic mail.

<Example of System Operation in the First Embodiment>
Next, processing operations of the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration and the user terminal 150 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. Symbols such as S1 and S2 in FIGS. 4 and 5 correspond to step numbers such as step S1 and step S2 in the following description. First, an example of processing in the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Step S1: Decoding Multiple Channel Video]
In step S1, video streams of all channels for which thumbnail videos are to be created are decoded, and frame data of each stream is obtained. In this processing, the frame data acquisition unit 101 acquires the data amount of packets (MPEG-2 TS packet, NAL unit, etc.) necessary to configure each frame. The decoding process is performed when a video stream related to video distribution is compressed with MPEG-2, H.264, or the like. If the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 receives an SDI signal or the like from a baseband device, the decoding process is performed. When receiving, the decoding process is unnecessary.

[Step S2: Acquisition of Frames Comprising Thumbnail Video Sequence]
In step S2, the thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102 acquires a frame group that can be temporally synchronized among all the channels in the frame data of each channel acquired in step S1, at a fixed interval (= F). Store in the frame buffer. The multi-channel frame buffer may be a storage unit such as a memory provided in the thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102, or may be a storage unit provided outside the thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102.

  Here, F is a parameter that depends on the smoothness of the thumbnail video, and is a value that can be arbitrarily set by an external parameter or the like. In the example of FIG. 4, an image for acquiring a frame group at intervals of 15 frames is described.

  That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4, frame 0 of stream 1 (1ch: channel 1, the same applies hereinafter), frame 1 of stream 2,. Frame 14 of stream N is acquired as a frame group that can be synchronized in time, and a frame group after 15 frames (frame 15 of stream 1, frame 16 of stream 2,..., Frame 29 of stream N) is the next. Is acquired as a frame group at the time.

[Step S3: Generation of Thumbnail Video Sequence]
In step S3, the thumbnail video sequence generation unit 103 generates a thumbnail video sequence by rearranging the frame groups obtained in the process of step S2 and stored in the multichannel frame buffer in the time axis direction.

  That is, as shown in the S3 part of FIG. 4, in this example, frame 0 of stream 1, frame 1, stream 2,. The frames of the frame group consisting of the frames 14 of the stream N are arranged in this order, followed by the frame 15 of the stream 1, the frame 16 of the stream 2,. The frames of the frame group including the frames 29 of the stream N are arranged in this order.

[Step S4: Generation of Thumbnail Video Stream]
Since the thumbnail video sequence generated up to the processing in step S3 is uncompressed data, in step S4, the encoding unit 104 performs encoding, MUX processing, and the like for transmission of the thumbnail video sequence. As an example, MPEG-2, H.264, etc. can be used for encoding.

  The compression method executed by the encoding unit 104 is not particularly limited, and any method may be used. However, since the thumbnail video sequence of the present embodiment is a sequence in which frames of different channels are arranged, the correlation between frames is low. Therefore, it is desirable to perform compression not by inter coding using inter-frame correlation but by intra coding that performs only inter-screen correlation. In addition, in the case of intra coding, since there is no inter-frame correlation, each frame can be extracted and processed independently on the receiving side, which leads to a reduction in mounting load on the receiving side.

  By the way, in video encoding, encoding by CBR (Constant Bit-Rate) that makes the code amount per unit time constant is generally performed as a bit rate control method. Frames constituting the thumbnail video sequence in the present embodiment are configured by rearranging videos of different channels (= different contents) in the time axis direction. Since there are a variety of patterns (from natural patterns) to complex patterns (natural images and elaborate patterns), the amount of code to be assigned was changed according to the complexity of the frame design rather than assigning an equal amount of code to each frame during encoding. On the other hand, encoding can be performed with a waste of code amount due to the statistical multiplexing effect. In the present embodiment, the code amount adjustment unit 105 performs the code amount assignment described above.

[Step S5: Send thumbnail video stream]
In step S5, the encoding unit 104 (including the transmission function) transmits the encoded thumbnail video stream. The transmission method is not particularly limited, but for example, RTP / RTSP, RTMP, HLS, MPEG-DASH, etc. can be used according to the form of the distribution service. In the present embodiment, since there is one stream to be transmitted for thumbnail video distribution, it can be normally transmitted by the same method as the method of transmitting a video stream.

  Subsequently, for example, the frame data acquisition unit 101 (including the transmission function) specifies the number of channels bundled as a thumbnail video stream and information for identifying (synchronizing) the first channel thumbnail (byte position in the stream, time information). ) Is separately transmitted as channel identification auxiliary information. This auxiliary information may be described in a playlist file, a manifest file, and an index file used for each of the streams if the stream is distributed by a distribution method such as HLS or MPEG-DASH.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the channel identification auxiliary information includes, for example, the number of bundled channels = N, information for specifying the thumbnail of the first channel = (start byte position of the frame of the first channel (stream 1) (eg, stream The Xth byte from the start), and the time at which the frame is displayed. The channel identification auxiliary information may be any information as long as it is possible to display a thumbnail video for each channel in synchronization with the video on the user terminal side.

  Next, processing in the user terminal 150 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Step S6: Receive Stream, Receive Auxiliary Information]
In step S6, the decoding unit 151 receives the thumbnail video stream transmitted from the thumbnail providing apparatus 100, performs DEMUX processing, decoding (decoding) processing, and the like on the received thumbnail video stream, and performs a frame of the thumbnail video sequence. Get the data. At the same time, the frame extraction unit 152 acquires channel identification auxiliary information (the number of channels bundled in the stream as thumbnails and head channel information (byte position, time information) in the stream) from the thumbnail providing apparatus 100.

  As described above, the channel identification auxiliary information may be acquired from a playlist file or a manifest file if the distribution file is based on a distribution method such as HLS or MPEG-DASH.

[Step S7: Decomposition / Extraction of Thumbnail Video Stream]
The thumbnail video sequence obtained in step S6 is stored in the decoded frame storage buffer provided in the frame extraction unit 152.

  The frame extraction unit 152 then decomposes and extracts frames for each channel. The disassembly and extraction for each channel is performed based on the channel identification auxiliary information acquired in step S6. First, the channel head position is determined from the thumbnail video sequence based on the channel identification auxiliary information. Next, the first thumbnail (frame) of each channel is obtained by sequentially extracting frames from the determined channel head position based on the channel number information. Similarly, the frame for each channel to be displayed thereafter can be performed using the channel identification auxiliary information.

  In the above example, it is assumed that channel identification auxiliary information is provided for each frame group (frames of all channels synchronized in time), but channel identification auxiliary information is provided only for the first frame group. It is also good to do. In the latter case, the user terminal 100 can estimate the channel start position of the second and subsequent frame groups as the next frame after the last frame of the first frame group. The number of channels may be the same for each frame group.

  In the example of FIG. 5 (corresponding to FIG. 4), the frame 0 of channel 1, the frame 1 of channel 2,... As a frame of each channel that is extracted and displayed next (n + 1 second), a frame 15 of channel 1, a frame 1, channel 2 of channel 2, 6 ... a frame 29 of channel N are decomposed and extracted.

  Note that the channel identification auxiliary information may not be used when the frame can be correctly decomposed and extracted for each channel in accordance with a predetermined rule agreed between the transmitting side and the receiving side.

[Step S8: Screen Display]
Next, the thumbnail output unit 153 operates the operation / display unit so that the thumbnails (frames) of each channel acquired in step S7 are sequentially displayed for each channel at a predetermined position (a position corresponding to the channel). Output to 154. Regarding the updating of the thumbnails, it is not necessary to display the thumbnails of all the channels in the stream, and the thumbnails may be appropriately thinned and displayed according to the specifications of the terminal.

  Also, the thumbnails of each channel need not be displayed fairly at the same frame rate. For example, the user may be guided to select a channel by changing the frame rate between a pay channel and a free channel, or by displaying a higher frame rate for a thumbnail of a channel that is prioritized by the video distributor. Such processing is the same in other embodiments.

  After the screen is displayed, for example, a channel is selected by the user selecting a thumbnail, and the interlocking control unit 155 notifies the television 400 of information on the selected channel.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a thumbnail providing apparatus that provides thumbnail videos of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service, acquires frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, and the frame data A frame acquisition means for acquiring a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel at a predetermined interval, and a sequence generation means for generating a thumbnail video sequence by arranging the frame groups acquired by the frame acquisition means in a time axis direction And a thumbnail providing apparatus comprising: a thumbnail video sequence acquired by the sequence generating means.

The user terminal (display device) is a display device that displays a plurality of channels of thumbnail images in a video distribution service, and the plurality of channels generated at predetermined intervals in a thumbnail video sequence received from a thumbnail providing device. Frame acquisition means for sequentially acquiring frame data from the first channel for each frame group corresponding to
There is provided a display device comprising display means for sequentially displaying each frame data acquired by the frame acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the frame data.

(Second embodiment: time-direction thumbnail playlist method)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In video distribution using IP, generally, HTTP-based video distribution methods such as HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) and MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) are used. Both of these divide the original video data into pieces of files (eg, about 10 seconds) and prepare a playlist that describes the playback order. On the client side, the file is obtained from the server in the order of playback based on the playlist and played back.

  In the second embodiment, an example of processing by the thumbnail playlist method using distribution files (mainly playlist files and manifest files) in these methods will be described. In the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, a codec on the thumbnail providing apparatus side is not necessary.

<Apparatus configuration: Thumbnail providing apparatus 200>
FIG. 6 shows a configuration diagram of the thumbnail providing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the thumbnail providing apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment includes an I-frame information acquisition unit 201, an I-frame information rearrangement unit 202, a thumbnail video playlist generation unit 203, a thumbnail video playlist storage unit 204, A thumbnail video playlist transmission unit 205 is provided. The function outline of each part is as follows.

  The I frame information acquisition unit 201 acquires I frame information for each channel for use in thumbnail video from the I frame information file prepared in the above distribution method. The I frame information rearrangement unit 202 rearranges the I frame information of each channel in the order of channels.

  The thumbnail video playlist generating unit 203 generates a thumbnail video playlist from the I frame information rearranged by the I frame information rearranging unit 202. The thumbnail video playlist storage unit 204 stores the thumbnail video playlist generated by the thumbnail video playlist generation unit 203.

  The thumbnail video playlist transmission unit 205 transmits the thumbnail video playlist to the user terminal 250 in response to a request from the user terminal 250, for example. Note that transmission may be performed without being based on a request from the user terminal 250.

  Although the playlist generated by the thumbnail video playlist generation unit 203 may be stored in another device, in the present embodiment, as an example, the thumbnail providing device 200 stores the thumbnail video playlist and the user terminal 250. To send to.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a video distribution server that distributes the original video (and the original playlist) is separately provided. However, the thumbnail providing apparatus 200 may have a function of a video distribution server.

<Apparatus configuration: user terminal 250>
FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of the user terminal 250 in the second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the user terminal 250 according to the present embodiment includes a thumbnail video playlist acquisition unit 251, a thumbnail video playlist storage unit 252, a thumbnail video acquisition unit 253, a thumbnail output unit 254, and an operation / display unit 255. And an interlocking control unit 256. The outline of each functional part is as follows.

  The thumbnail video playlist acquisition unit 251 acquires a thumbnail video playlist from the thumbnail providing apparatus 200 via HTTP. The acquired thumbnail video playlist is stored in the thumbnail video playlist storage unit 252. The thumbnail video acquisition unit 253 acquires thumbnail video data (I frame in this embodiment) of each channel based on the thumbnail video playlist.

  The thumbnail output unit 254 reproduces (decodes) the video data (I frame data) acquired by the thumbnail video acquisition unit 253, and outputs it to the operation / display unit 255 so as to be displayed at the screen position for each channel. The operation / display unit 255 displays thumbnail images for each channel. Similarly to the first embodiment, for example, when a user designates a channel (thumbnail video designation) on the operation / display unit 255 on which a thumbnail video for each channel is displayed, the interlock control unit 256 acquires channel information (such as a channel number) from the operation / display unit 255 and transmits the channel information to the television 400, thereby enabling the user to view a video of a desired channel.

<Example of System Operation in Second Embodiment>
Next, an example of processing operations of the thumbnail providing apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration and the user terminal 250 will be described with reference to FIGS. Symbols such as S21 and S22 in FIGS. 8 and 9 correspond to step numbers such as step S21 and step S22 in the following description. First, an example of processing in the thumbnail providing apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Step S21: Acquisition of I Frame Information]
In the present embodiment, the video distribution server described above has an I-frame playlist that describes the positions of randomly accessible I-frames in addition to the normal playlist.

  Specifically, in the HLS distribution method, in addition to a normal play list, an I-FRAME play list that describes the positions of randomly accessible I frames is provided. In the I-FRAME playlist, for each channel and time (reproduction time), as I frame information, for example, an I frame data acquisition position (URL of a file storing I frame data, byte position in the file, The number of bytes of I frame data).

  Also, in the MPEG-DASH distribution method, information similar to the information described in the I-FRAME playlist is prepared as INDEX information. The INDEX information can be referenced from the RepresentationIndex element and index attribute described in the manifest file. Such information can be collectively referred to as an I-frame playlist.

  In step S21, the I-frame information acquisition unit 201 extracts I-frame information (time information (PTS), byte position in the stream, and the like for the thumbnail video from the I-frame playlist stored in the video distribution server. ). In the example of FIG. 8, time t, time t + 1, time t + 2,... It is shown that the information of was acquired.

[Step S22: Rearrangement]
Next, the I frame information rearrangement unit 202 rearranges the I frame information of each channel acquired in step S21 in the order of the channels. For example, when the number of channels is N, information on I frames (time t) of N channels is first arranged in the order of channels, and then information on the next I frame (time t + 1) of each channel is arranged. Repeat the process of arranging. By this processing, information of I frames rearranged in the order as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained.

[Step S23: Generation of Thumbnail Video Playlist]
Subsequently, the thumbnail video play list generation unit 203 generates a thumbnail video play list from the information of the I frames rearranged in step S22. As a thumbnail video playlist, for example, information ((channel 1, I frame information at time t), (channel 2, I frame information at time t), ... (channel N, I at time t) as shown in FIG. (Frame information), (Channel 1, I frame information at time t + 1), (Channel 2, I frame information at time t + 1) ... (Channel N, I frame information at time t + 1) ...) A list may be used, other formats may be used, and a playlist that conforms to a specific method may be generated.
As an example of generating a playlist in a format that conforms to a specific method, when conforming to the HLS method, a playlist can be generated according to the same rules as those for an I-FRAME playlist. Here, the number of channels and channel identification information (which channel I frame information is identified) may be described in a title attribute (or comment attribute) defined in the playlist.

  For example, when conforming to the MPEG-DASH system, elements such as video, audio, and subtitles constituting a program can be described in a manifest file (a playlist file in HLS) as an AdaptationSet element. Therefore, the thumbnail video of each channel is described in an independent AdaptationSet element. The number of channels can be determined by the number of adaptation elements of video, and the channel identification information can be identified by the ID attribute value of AdaptationSet. In addition, I frame information is configured as an INDEX file defined by MPEG-DASH or a dedicated MP4 file (INDEX information is SegmentIndex Box, SubSegmentIndex Box), and a RepresentationIndex element defined by MPEG-DASH It can be specified so that it can be referenced as an index attribute.

[Step S24: Arrangement]
In the present embodiment, the thumbnail video playlist generated in step S23 is stored in the thumbnail video playlist storage unit 204. Further, the video data referred to based on the thumbnail video playlist is stored in the video distribution server. The original playlist is also stored in the video distribution server.

  Next, an example of processing in the user terminal 250 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Step S25: Receiving Thumbnail Video Playlist]
The thumbnail video playlist acquisition unit 251 of the user terminal 250 acquires a thumbnail video playlist from the thumbnail providing apparatus 200 via HTTP. That is, the thumbnail video playlist acquisition unit 251 transmits a thumbnail video playlist transmission request to the thumbnail providing device 200, and the thumbnail video playlist transmission unit 205 of the thumbnail provision device 200 responds to the transmission request by the thumbnail video playlist transmission unit 205. The video playlist is read from the thumbnail video playlist storage unit 204 and transmitted to the user terminal 250.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the acquired thumbnail video playlist. The acquired thumbnail video playlist is stored in the thumbnail video playlist storage unit 252 in the user terminal 250.

[Step S26: Display Thumbnail Image]
Subsequently, the thumbnail video acquisition unit 253 scans the thumbnail video playlist acquired in step S25 in order from the top. Then, based on each I frame information obtained by scanning, thumbnail video data (I frame data) of each channel at each time is acquired from the video distribution server.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a thumbnail video play list has ((channel 1, I frame information at time t), (channel 2, I frame information at time t), ... (channel N, I at time t). Frame information), (channel 1, I frame information at time t + 1), (channel 2, I frame information at time t + 1) ... (channel N, I frame information at time t + 1) ...) The thumbnail video acquisition unit 253 first acquires (channel 1, I frame information at time t). Then, the thumbnail video acquisition unit 253 acquires the data of the I frame from the video distribution server based on the I frame information (information such as the URL of the file of the target I frame data and the byte position in the file).

  Similarly, the thumbnail video acquisition unit 253 performs (Channel 2, I frame information at time t) ... (Channel N, I frame information at time t), (Channel 1, I frame information at time t + 1), (Channel 2. (I frame information at time t + 1)... (Channel N, I frame information at time t + 1) are sequentially acquired, and I frame data is acquired based on the corresponding I frame information.

  The thumbnail video data acquired by the thumbnail video acquisition unit 253 is passed to the thumbnail output unit 254. For example, the thumbnail output unit 254 reproduces the thumbnail video data so that the thumbnail video data is displayed at the position on the screen corresponding to the channel according to the time described in the playlist, and the thumbnail display unit 255 displays the thumbnail video data on the operation / display unit 255. The operation / display unit 255 displays the thumbnail image at the screen position corresponding to the channel.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, for example, when a user designates a channel (thumbnail video designation) on the operation / display unit 255 on which a thumbnail video for each channel is displayed, the interlock control unit 256 acquires channel information (such as a channel number) from the operation / display unit 255 and transmits the channel information to the television 400, thereby enabling the user to view a video of a desired channel.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that television 400 acquires a playlist of the video stream body of each channel and performs video display of the channel based on the playlist. As described above, since the thumbnail video playlist in the present embodiment is created from the playlist of the video stream body, the thumbnail video synchronized with the video displayed on the television 400 is displayed on the user terminal 250. Is possible. Note that the user terminal 150 itself may acquire the playlist of the video stream main body and display the video of the channel based on the playlist (dotted line in FIG. 8).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thumbnail providing apparatus that provides the display apparatus with the information on the thumbnail images of the plurality of channels in the image distribution service, and each channel from the playlist of the plurality of I-frames. Frame information acquisition means for acquiring I frame information describing I frame information to be used as thumbnail images of the image, and I frame information of a plurality of channels acquired by the frame information acquisition means for each I frame information at the same time A thumbnail providing apparatus comprising: rearranging means for rearranging I frame information in the order of channels; and transmission means for transmitting I frame information of a plurality of channels rearranged by the rearranging means to the display device as a thumbnail video playlist. Is provided.

  Also, a display device that displays thumbnail videos of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service, and obtains a thumbnail video playlist including I frame information describing I frame information used as thumbnail videos of each channel from the thumbnail providing device. Based on the I frame information in the thumbnail video playlist, video data acquisition means for acquiring I frame data of each channel from the video distribution server, and each I acquired by the video data acquisition means There is provided a display device including display means for sequentially displaying frame data as thumbnails at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the I frame data.

(Third embodiment: Spatial direction thumbnail stream method)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, frame data of a plurality of channels used as thumbnails is combined in the spatial direction to be delivered as one frame, and the user terminal side converts the combined frame to a frame of each channel. Divided and displayed as thumbnails.

  The configuration of each device in the third embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (thumbnail providing device 100) and FIG. 3 (user terminal 150). That is, the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment includes a frame data acquisition unit 101, a thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102, a thumbnail video sequence generation unit 103, an encoding unit 104, and a code amount adjustment unit 105. Further, the user terminal 150 according to the third embodiment includes a decoding unit 151, a frame extraction unit 152, a thumbnail output unit 153, an operation / display unit 154, and an interlock control unit 155.

  However, in the present embodiment, the thumbnail video sequence generation unit 103 of the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 combines frames of a plurality of channels used as thumbnails in the spatial direction instead of arranging them in the time direction. In addition, the frame extraction unit 152 of the user terminal 150 performs a process of extracting a frame in an area corresponding to each channel from one frame combined in the spatial direction.

<Example of System Operation in Third Embodiment>
Next, processing operations of the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration and the user terminal 150 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. Symbols such as S31 and S32 in FIGS. 10 and 11 correspond to step numbers such as step S31 and step S32 in the following description. First, an example of processing in the thumbnail providing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Step S31: Acquisition of Frame]
First, as in the first embodiment, the frame data acquisition unit 101 decodes the video streams of all the channels for which thumbnail images are to be created, and obtains the frame data of each stream.

[Step S32: Generation of Thumbnail Video Sequence]
Subsequently, the thumbnail video frame extraction unit 102 acquires, in the frame data of each channel acquired in step S31, a group of frames that can be temporally synchronized between all channels at a constant interval (= F), so that a multi-channel frame is acquired. Store in buffer.

  Then, the thumbnail video sequence generation unit 103 generates a thumbnail video frame by combining the frame groups (frame groups at the same time in time) stored in the multi-channel frame buffer in the spatial direction. This process is repeated at regular intervals (= F) to generate a thumbnail video sequence in which thumbnail video frames are arranged in the time direction.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, for each time, channel 1, channel 2,. Channel N frames (decoded video data) are combined to generate one image data as thumbnail video frames. A thumbnail video sequence is generated by arranging the thumbnail video frames in time order.

[Step S33: Generation of Thumbnail Video Stream]
Since the thumbnail video sequence generated up to the processing in step S32 is uncompressed data, in step S33, the encoding unit 104 performs encoding for transmitting the thumbnail video sequence to generate a thumbnail video stream. At this time, the area of each channel is used as a slice, and a different slice ID is assigned to each slice. For example, the slice ID is arranged at a predetermined position (eg, head position) of each slice. The slice ID may be a channel number corresponding to the slice. The slice ID may be assigned to a slice before encoding or may be assigned to a slice after encoding. Also, the code amount adjustment unit 105 may perform code amount distribution within a frame depending on the complexity of the design of each channel region.

[Step S34: Send thumbnail video stream]
In step S34, the encoding unit 104 (including the transmission function) transmits the encoded thumbnail video stream.

  Next, processing in the user terminal 150 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Step S35: Receive Stream]
In step S35, the decoding unit 151 receives the thumbnail video stream transmitted from the thumbnail providing apparatus 100, and performs a DEMUX process, a decoding process, and the like on the received thumbnail video stream to obtain a thumbnail video sequence.

[Step S36: Decomposition and Extraction of Thumbnail Video Frame]
The thumbnail video sequence obtained in step S35 is stored in the decoded frame storage buffer provided in the frame extraction unit 152. Then, the frame extraction unit 152 cuts out the video data (thumbnail) of the area of each channel from each thumbnail video frame constituting the thumbnail video sequence (a frame in which frames of a plurality of channels at the same time are combined). The area of each channel can be identified from the slice ID in the stream. Instead of using slice IDs, each channel region may be identified using auxiliary information as in the first embodiment.

[Step S37: Screen Display]
Next, the thumbnail output unit 153 outputs the thumbnails (frame data) of each channel acquired in step S36 to the operation / display unit 154 so that the thumbnails (frame data) are sequentially displayed at predetermined positions on the screen. To do.

  After the screen is displayed, for example, a channel is selected by the user selecting a thumbnail, and the interlocking control unit 155 notifies the television 400 of information on the selected channel.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a thumbnail providing apparatus that provides thumbnail videos of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service, acquires frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, and the frame data Frame acquisition means for acquiring a frame group used as a thumbnail image of each channel at a predetermined interval, and for each frame group acquired by the frame acquisition means, the frame group is combined to generate one thumbnail video frame Then, a thumbnail providing apparatus is provided that includes a sequence generation unit that generates a thumbnail video sequence in which the thumbnail video frames are arranged, and a unit that transmits the thumbnail video sequence generated by the sequence generation unit.

  Further, the display device displays thumbnail videos of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service, and for each thumbnail video frame generated by combining the frame data of the plurality of channels from a thumbnail video sequence received from a thumbnail providing device, Frame acquisition means for acquiring frame data of an area corresponding to each channel, and display means for sequentially displaying each frame data acquired by the frame acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to the channel of the frame data. A display device is provided.

(Summary of technology explained in the embodiment, effects, etc.)
As described above, in each embodiment, the thumbnail video is generated as streaming data in the same manner as the main distribution video. For example, the video data of a plurality of channels is bundled and distributed as one video data while extracting only the part necessary for display on the thumbnail providing apparatus side. On the user terminal side, the thumbnail video of each channel can be displayed using the received streaming data.

  In addition, since the position information (time information, byte position information, etc.) for associating with the actual distribution data is provided for the streaming data for the thumbnail video, the time synchronization with the actual distribution contents is possible. .

  As a result, in the multi-channel video distribution service, the user can select the channel he / she is interested in and display / view it on the TV while easily grasping what is being distributed in each channel. .

(Section 1)
A thumbnail providing apparatus for providing thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame acquisition means for acquiring frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, and acquiring a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel from the frame data at a predetermined interval;
Sequence generating means for generating a thumbnail video sequence by arranging the frames acquired by the frame acquiring means in the time axis direction;
Means for sending a thumbnail video sequence acquired by the sequence generation means;
A thumbnail providing apparatus comprising:
(Section 2)
A thumbnail providing device for providing information on thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service to a display device,
Frame information acquisition means for acquiring I frame information describing information of an I frame used as a thumbnail image of each channel from the I frame playlist of the plurality of channels;
Reordering means for reordering the I frame information in the order of the channels for each I frame information at the same time for the I frame information of a plurality of channels acquired by the frame information acquisition means;
Transmitting means for transmitting I-frame information of a plurality of channels rearranged by the rearranging means to the display device as a thumbnail video playlist;
A thumbnail providing apparatus comprising:
(Section 3)
A thumbnail providing apparatus for providing thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame acquisition means for acquiring frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, and acquiring a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel from the frame data at a predetermined interval;
For each frame group acquired by the frame acquisition unit, the frame group is combined to generate one thumbnail video frame, and a sequence generation unit that generates a thumbnail video sequence in which the thumbnail video frames are arranged;
Means for sending a thumbnail video sequence generated by the sequence generation means;
A thumbnail providing apparatus comprising:
(Section 4)
A program for causing a computer to function as each unit in the thumbnail providing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3.
(Section 5)
A display device for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame acquisition means for sequentially acquiring frame data from the first channel for each frame group corresponding to the plurality of channels generated at predetermined intervals in the thumbnail video sequence received from the thumbnail providing device;
Display means for sequentially displaying each frame data acquired by the frame acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to the channel of the frame data;
A display device comprising:
(Section 6)
A display device for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Playlist acquisition means for acquiring a thumbnail video playlist including I frame information describing I frame information used as thumbnail video of each channel from the thumbnail providing device;
Video data acquisition means for acquiring I frame data of each channel from the video distribution server based on the I frame information in the thumbnail video playlist;
Display means for sequentially displaying each I frame data acquired by the video data acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to the channel of the I frame data;
A display device comprising:
(Section 7)
A display device for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame acquisition means for acquiring frame data of an area corresponding to each channel for each thumbnail video frame generated by combining the frame data of the plurality of channels from the thumbnail video sequence received from the thumbnail providing device;
Display means for sequentially displaying each frame data acquired by the frame acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to the channel of the frame data;
A display device comprising:
(Section 8)
A program for causing a computer to function as each unit in the display device according to any one of Items 5 to 7.
(Section 9)
A thumbnail video display method executed in a thumbnail video display system having a thumbnail providing device and a display device for providing thumbnail video of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
The thumbnail providing device is
Obtaining frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, obtaining a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel from the frame data at a predetermined interval;
By arranging the frame groups in the time axis direction, a thumbnail video sequence is generated, and the thumbnail video sequence is transmitted.
The display device
In the thumbnail video sequence received from the thumbnail providing device, for each frame group corresponding to the plurality of channels generated at a predetermined interval, frame data is sequentially acquired from the first channel;
Each acquired frame data is sequentially displayed as a thumbnail at the screen position corresponding to the channel of the frame data.
A thumbnail image display method characterized by that.
(Section 10)
A thumbnail video display method executed in a thumbnail video display system including a thumbnail providing device and a display device for providing thumbnail video information of a plurality of channels to a display device in a video distribution service,
The thumbnail providing device is
Obtaining I frame information describing I frame information used as thumbnail video of each channel from the I channel playlist of the plurality of channels;
For the acquired I-frame information of a plurality of channels, the I-frame information is rearranged in the order of the channels for each I-frame information at the same time,
Transmitting the rearranged I-frame information of a plurality of channels as a thumbnail video playlist to the display device;
The display device
Receiving the thumbnail video playlist from the thumbnail providing device;
Based on the I frame information in the thumbnail video playlist, obtain I frame data of each channel from the video distribution server,
Each I frame data acquired from the video distribution server is sequentially displayed as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to the channel of the I frame data.
A thumbnail image display method characterized by that.
(Section 11)
A thumbnail video display method executed in a thumbnail video display system having a thumbnail providing device and a display device for providing thumbnail video of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
The thumbnail providing device is
Obtaining frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, obtaining a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel from the frame data at a predetermined interval;
For each frame group, combine the frame groups to generate one thumbnail video frame, generate a thumbnail video sequence in which the thumbnail video frames are arranged, send the thumbnail video sequence,
The display device
For each thumbnail video frame generated by combining the frame data of the plurality of channels from the thumbnail video sequence received from the thumbnail providing device, obtain frame data of an area corresponding to each channel;
Each acquired frame data is sequentially displayed as a thumbnail at the screen position corresponding to the channel of the frame data.
A thumbnail image display method characterized by that.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

100, 200 Thumbnail providing apparatus 150, 250 User terminal 400 Television 101 Frame data acquisition unit 102 Thumbnail video frame extraction unit 103 Thumbnail video sequence generation unit 104 Encoding unit 105 Code amount adjustment unit 151 Decoding unit 152 Frame extraction unit 153 Thumbnail output unit 154 Operation / display unit 155 Link control unit 201 I frame information acquisition unit 202 I frame information rearrangement unit 203 Thumbnail video playlist generation unit 204 Thumbnail video playlist storage unit 205 Thumbnail video playlist transmission unit 251 Thumbnail video playlist acquisition unit 252 Thumbnail image playlist storage unit 253 Thumbnail image acquisition unit 254 Thumbnail output unit 255 Operation / display unit 256 Interlocking control unit

Claims (11)

A thumbnail providing apparatus for providing thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame acquisition means for acquiring frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, and acquiring a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel from the frame data at a predetermined interval;
Sequence generating means for generating a thumbnail video sequence by arranging the frames acquired by the frame acquiring means in the time axis direction;
Means for sending out a thumbnail video sequence acquired by the sequence generating means. A thumbnail providing device for providing information on thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service to a display device,
Frame information acquisition means for acquiring I frame information describing information of an I frame used as a thumbnail image of each channel from the I frame playlist of the plurality of channels;
Reordering means for reordering the I frame information in the order of the channels for each I frame information at the same time for the I frame information of a plurality of channels acquired by the frame information acquisition means;
A thumbnail providing apparatus comprising: transmission means for transmitting I-frame information of a plurality of channels rearranged by the rearranging means to the display device as a thumbnail video playlist. A thumbnail providing apparatus for providing thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service is acquired, and a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel is obtained from the frame data, and a frame group that is synchronized in time between all channels is determined in advance. Frame acquisition means for acquiring at intervals;
For each frame group acquired by the frame acquisition means, a sequence generation means for generating a thumbnail video sequence by combining the frames and generating one thumbnail video frame and arranging the thumbnail video frames in the time direction ;
Means for sending out a thumbnail video sequence generated by the sequence generating means.   The program for functioning a computer as each means in the thumbnail provision apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3. A display device for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
A thumbnail video sequence received from a thumbnail providing apparatus , wherein a first channel is provided for each frame group in a thumbnail video sequence in which frames corresponding to the plurality of channels acquired at predetermined intervals are arranged in a time axis direction. Frame acquisition means for sequentially acquiring frame data from:
A display device comprising: display means for sequentially displaying each frame data acquired by the frame acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the frame data. A display device for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
Playlist acquisition means for acquiring a thumbnail video playlist including I frame information describing I frame information used as thumbnail video of each channel from the thumbnail providing device;
Video data acquisition means for acquiring I frame data of each channel from the video distribution server based on the I frame information in the thumbnail video playlist;
A display device comprising: display means for sequentially displaying each I frame data acquired by the video data acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the I frame data. A thumbnail video display system comprising: the thumbnail providing device according to claim 3; and a display device that displays thumbnail videos of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service .
The display device
Frame acquisition means for acquiring frame data of an area corresponding to each channel for each thumbnail video frame generated by combining the frame data of the plurality of channels from the thumbnail video sequence received from the thumbnail providing device;
A thumbnail video display system comprising: display means for sequentially displaying each frame data acquired by the frame acquisition means as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the frame data. The program for functioning a computer as each means in the display apparatus of Claim 5 or 6 . A thumbnail video display method executed in a thumbnail video display system having a thumbnail providing device and a display device for providing thumbnail video of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
The thumbnail providing device is
Obtaining frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service, obtaining a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel from the frame data at a predetermined interval;
By arranging the frame groups in the time axis direction, a thumbnail video sequence is generated, and the thumbnail video sequence is transmitted.
The display device
In the thumbnail video sequence received from the thumbnail providing device, for each frame group corresponding to the plurality of channels generated at a predetermined interval, frame data is sequentially acquired from the first channel;
A thumbnail video display method, wherein each acquired frame data is sequentially displayed as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the frame data. A thumbnail video display method executed in a thumbnail video display system including a thumbnail providing device and a display device for providing thumbnail video information of a plurality of channels to a display device in a video distribution service,
The thumbnail providing device is
Obtaining I frame information describing I frame information used as thumbnail video of each channel from the I channel playlist of the plurality of channels;
For the acquired I-frame information of a plurality of channels, the I-frame information is rearranged in the order of the channels for each I-frame information at the same time,
Transmitting the rearranged I-frame information of a plurality of channels as a thumbnail video playlist to the display device;
The display device
Receiving the thumbnail video playlist from the thumbnail providing device;
Based on the I frame information in the thumbnail video playlist, obtain I frame data of each channel from the video distribution server,
A thumbnail video display method, wherein each I frame data acquired from the video distribution server is sequentially displayed as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the I frame data. A thumbnail video display method executed in a thumbnail video display system having a thumbnail providing device and a display device for providing thumbnail video of a plurality of channels in a video distribution service,
The thumbnail providing device is
Frame data of each channel provided by the video distribution service is acquired, and a frame group used as a thumbnail video of each channel is obtained from the frame data, and a frame group that is synchronized in time between all channels is determined in advance. Get at intervals,
For each frame group, combine the frame groups to generate one thumbnail video frame, generate a thumbnail video sequence in which the thumbnail video frames are arranged in the time direction, and send the thumbnail video sequence,
The display device
For each thumbnail video frame generated by combining the frame data of the plurality of channels from the thumbnail video sequence received from the thumbnail providing device, obtain frame data of an area corresponding to each channel;
A thumbnail video display method, wherein each acquired frame data is sequentially displayed as a thumbnail at a screen position corresponding to a channel of the frame data.

Images